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The Soo Locks are a set of parallel locks, operated and maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, that enable ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes.

Description

The Soo Locks are a set of parallel locks, operated and maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, that enable ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes.

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Boatnerd paradise! Fun and interesting for those in the industry, boatnerds, those who are curious, tourists, and families alike. It's great that the new lock is on its way to being completed to compliment the MacArthur and Poe Locks. On this visit, I came for Engineer's Day. Due to COVID, it was very restricted for safety, but hopefully by next year it will be in full swing. Typically on Engineer's Day (the last Friday of June) the public can go behind the security fence and cross the lock gates. Folks can get close enough to touch ships passing through the two regularly operating locks and check out the mechanisms in the adjoining buildings. Always check out the visitors center to learn more about the locks and get updates on boats and lakers coming through. The staff after very knowledgeable and take pride in their work. Always fun visiting the Soo!

David GregoryDavid Gregory
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I recently visited the Soo Locks Maritime Museum and was blown away by the quality of the exhibits and the friendliness of the staff. The museum provides an in-depth look at the history of the Soo Locks and the Great Lakes shipping industry. The exhibits are well-curated and provide an interactive experience, making it easy to understand the significance of the locks to the region. The staff were incredibly knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions I had. They were passionate about the museum and the history of the locks which made the visit even more enjoyable. The location of the museum is also great, as it's right on the waterfront, providing a great view of the locks. I highly recommend a visit to the Soo Locks Maritime Museum for anyone interested in history and the Great Lakes.

Mike SmalleganMike Smallegan
40
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The locks themselves are interesting and pretty straightforward in how they operate. We got there just as a couple of tour boats were entering it, and got to watch the locks operate to allow them to go into lake Superior which took about 20 to 30 minutes. This attraction will appeal to your engineering types and your historians, but my wife and daughter got bored halfway through. It was a nice clean facility, easy to get up to the observation area. I like that even if no freighters are coming through, people can still see them in action with the tour boats. The grounds felt like a park, quiet and relaxing. We didn't go into the visitor center so I can't comment on that part. A nice piece of Michigan history.

Fawaz AtchooFawaz Atchoo
20
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Well one would be craving to visit historical landmarks and visit to SooLocks would certainly quench this thirst ! It’s an victory of human endeavour to conquer the nature or make amends to it to suit its needs SooLocks is a perfect example! Kudos to American Navy and Coast Guards for preserving this history so well ! My salute and pranams ( it’s an Indian word for showing utmost respect to individuals or group of people ) ! Well I understand that world is reeling under poverty and it’s own problems but whosoever can afford, at least in Michigan and adjoining regions should make an visit particularly for young ones in their house ! Have sufficient time to go through two museums !

B BB B
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I grew up in The Soo but have not lived here for over 14 years. I still come back to visit as often as I can and always make a point to visit the Soo Locks every time I'm home. The Visitor's Center has a plethora of information inside, including the history of the Soo Locks, information about current freighters passing through the locks & the times they'll be passing through and fun things for the children. Make sure to visit the fountain at the East end of the Locks park, it is an excellent photo opportunity!! Be advised, there are no pets allowed inside the park and you are subject to search as this is a US Government facility.

Heather SmithHeather Smith
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The Soo Locks are very cool! It was sweet to see how the ships can get from the higher Lake Superior to the lower Lake Huron through the Soo Locks. Watch the H. Lee ship go through. One thing to note is to make sure you are going when a large ship is going through to make your visit worth it. While it was cool to see the smaller boats go through it wasn’t nearly as impressive as the larger boats. It’s a very slow process, so it does get a little boring after a while. Very nice museum with lots of info on how the locks are built and function. Would recommend a stop there as well

Croix KrohnCroix Krohn
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Overview

4.7(2K reviews)

Phone

(906) 632-3366

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Website

saultstemarie.com

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Deep Dive

A deep dive into Soo Locks
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